Due to Knockbeg College’s great exploits in the All-Ireland GAA semi-final it was a severely depleted Killeshin/Hanover side who travelled to play Round Tower Rovers, but it was credit to their stand-ins, who put up a terrific performance, to come away with an emphatic victory.

Rovers were the first to show, when after five minutes, Killeshin/Hanover’s keeper – Mikey Dempsey, who pulled off a superb point-blank save to keep out a certain goal and thereafter, it was one-way traffic, as Killeshin/Hanover totally dominated proceedings. On twenty-five minutes Shane Murphy’s long-range effort, hit a post, however, Eoghan Fallon was on hand to fire home the rebound for 0-1. Thereafter, the outstanding Ben Dorgan stole the show for Killeshin/Hanover, as he scored five goals, in the next hour, including two twenty-yard strikes, before the interval and then scored three fine examples of the art of centre-forward as he single-handedly put Killeshin/Hanover out of sight at 0-6.

The goal of the game came on eighty-five minutes, when Shane Murphy’s forty yarder flashed past the Rovers keeper, who couldn’t do anything to prevent the score for 0-7. And they should have added to their keeper, but Eamon Moran followed up and was on hand to rifle the ball home for 0-8.

Rovers never gave up but were just outclassed and best for Killeshin/Hanover were Vinny Oba, Timmy Mohammed, Adam Nolan, the mercurial Shane Murphy and not forgetting the prolific Ben Dorgan.

It was a day that produced virtually, every type of weather conditions in the duration of the game, with Rovers having the worst against them, as they had to contend with a gale-force wind and pouring rain, in their faces.

Despite these conditions, Rovers managed to keep Vale, at bay until the forty minute mark, when they scored two goals, the first for 0-1, from Tommy Cummins, following good work by Kieran Collins and the second for 0-2, from Tom Gardiner, who headed home a fine cross, ‘whipped in’ by Lorcan Galvin and they took that lead into the interval.

With a score of 0-2 and wind advantage in the second-half, Rovers remained hopeful of hauling back Vale’s lead, however, lo and behold the weather cleared up and ruined Rovers perceived advantage. Vale managed to carve out three more goals, one of which was an Own Goal, with another from a tidy Lorcan Galvin finish and a further one from Lorcan Galvin, with a twenty-five-yard screamer on the volley, to make the final score 0-5 to Vale.

It was a battling performance from an unlucky Rovers team, whilst standing out for Vale were Tom Gardiner, Jack Treacy and Lorcan Galvin.

This was a disappointing game for Rovers, who despite controlling the game for much of the time, they couldn’t come back from the three goals that they shipped in the first half.

Rovers started well and created a good number of chances, but they were all spurned and the closest that they came, was when Darren Robinson, latched on to a ball that was spilled by the St Pat’s keeper, but he put it wide. St Pat’s went 0-1 up on ten minutes and on twenty-five minutes Tom Mitchell made it 0-2 and on thirty minutes Paddy Regan made it 0-3 and that was the half-time score.

Rovers came out for the second-half, in a different frame of mind and they started pressing St Pat’s and Alex Renehan won a penalty that was well converted by Darren Robinson to make it 1-3 and just ten minutes later, Rovers were right back in the game following a brilliant finish by Darren Robinson, to complete his brace and make the score 2-3, with everything to play for. However, try as they might, Rovers just couldn’t force an equaliser and ended 2-3 to St Pat’s Boys.

It was a battling performance from the Rovers team and standing out for St Pat’s were Lee Nolan, Aaron Cullen and Paddy Regan, with special mention for Tyler Brennan, who put in a super display of football.

Joey’s settled quickly and created a couple of chances, before a shot by Dawid Radochonski’s shot forced an error in the Rovers defence and the ball ended up crossing the line for 0-1.

Rovers levelled the game at 1-1, as a brilliant free-kick from Ben O’Reilly, saw a touch from David Brennan and the head of Conor Conlan, before it entered the net for 1-1.

Joey’s went back in front, by 1-2, when Dawid Radochonski finished off a fine free-kick by Jack Murphy and then Joey’s went 1-3 up, as following an Evan McGuire free-kick, Ben Murphy got on the end of it to calmly slot the ball home and that was the score at the interval.

In the second-half, Joey’s created numerous chances but were very wasteful with their finishing, but they did score another goal, as Evan Maguire scored direct from a corner for 1-4 and cruising.

Rovers had the last word, as Adain Hanrahan scored from distance for 2-4, which was unfortunately ‘too little too late’ to make a comeback and that’s how it ended.

Best for Joey’s were Jonah Dunne, Sam Byrne, Cian Shannon and Robert Timmons, whilst it was a battling team performance from Rovers, although William Oxley in goal, deserves particular mention for a really fine display, ‘between the sticks’